The Top Food Additives to Avoid

Part of leading a healthy and active life style is learning how to buy groceries that do not contain additives. It is best to eat raw, organic and from the farmer’s field whenever possible because additives in foods are very addictive. Furthermore, additives in food can expand your waistline, prevent your body from absorbing minerals and vitamins and encourage a fatty liver and insulin resistance.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are combinations of chemicals designed to make food taste sweeter. They are often found in foods that seem healthy or that are labeled hose are combination of chemicals that make food taste sweeter. Beware of finding them in baby foods that are labeled “natural”, “sugar-free” or organic.

These sweeteners cause cravings for more sweeteners and train the brain to mindlessly eat foods full of calories. Most foods that contain artificial sweeteners, like packaged bakery goods are also of poor nutritional quality.

Red dye additives are found in many foods such as Red Velvet Cake

Except for Stevia and Xylitol, that have larger molecules that are not absorbed by the body, it is best to avoid all artificial sweeteners.

Artificial Colors

Artificial colors do not occur in nature. Many are made from coal tar and can contain up to ten parts per million of arsenic or lead and still be met with approval by the FDA.

Here is a list of the worst coloring agents:

Blue #1, found in soft drinks, baked goods, and candy, and soft drinks, has been shown to damage the chromosomes in a cell’s nucleus and lead to irreversible free radical damage

Blue #2, which is found in fruit juices and candy, may cause brain tumours.

Citrus Red #1 is sprayed on green oranges to give them a pleasing orange color and it causes cancer

Citrus Red #2, used to dye the peels of some Florida oranges, can cause cancer.

Red #3 is often added to ice cream, muffins, canned goods and ice cream. Studies have linked this dye to nerve damage and to thyroid cancer.

Red #40 is found in gelatine, soda, candy, pastry, pet food, and it is also used to dye red meat so that it looks fresh in butcher case.

Yellow #5 is the second most widely used colorant, and it contributes to mood changes, and can cause allergic reactions. It is found in gelatine desserts and baked goods.

Yellow #6 can cause tumours in the adrenal glands and kidneys. It is found in baked goods, beverages, meat products, baked goods, candy, and gelatine.[1]


BHA and BHT
These preservatives stop food oils from going rancid. These additives seem may cause insomnia, and have been associated with liver and kidney damage, baldness, behavioural problems, cancer, fatal abnormalities, and premature aging.

Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite

Nitrates preservatives that are added to processed meat products such as bacon, corned beef, ham, hot dogs, lunchmeats, and sausage. They prevent the growth of bacteria in the product. However, hopefully you will be eating organic, grain-fed beef (and not a lot of it) rather than beef strewn with chemical preservatives when you are on the healthy and active program.


For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.

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[1] Scotti HHC, Kelly “The Dirty Dozen: 12 Food Additives to Avoid and Why http://fooddemocracy.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/the-dirty-dozen-12-foodsfood-additives-to-avoid-and-why/